Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis dedicated his player-of-the-match award to pacer Yash Dayal after the youngster held his nerve in the final over to secure a 27-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the battle for the final IPL playoff spot.
Du Plessis’ 54 off 39 balls and Virat Kohli’s 47 propelled RCB to a formidable 218 for five. CSK needed to score over 200 to qualify and came agonizingly close, courtesy of a late onslaught from Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.
With 17 required off the final over, Dayal remained composed despite Dhoni launching a towering six off the first ball. His composure proved crucial as RCB sealed the playoff berth.
“I dedicate the Man of the Match to Yash Dayal! I said to him pace off on this wicket is the best option,” Du Plessis said.
Rain threatened the match, prompting a 40-minute interruption, but it didn’t deter RCB’s spirited performance. Du Plessis praised the collective batting effort, saying, “The contributions from many batters at good strikes, I’m really proud.”
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad rued the absence of key players due to injuries, stating, “Missing out on three key players made a huge difference.” He acknowledged the team’s resilience, winning seven out of 14 games despite the challenges.
Gaikwad, one of the season’s top run-scorers, expressed disappointment at not taking the team to the playoffs, emphasizing that personal milestones don’t matter without team success.
The match culminated in a thrilling finish, with RCB emerging victorious and securing their place in the playoffs, leaving CSK to reflect on a season marred by injuries and missed opportunities.